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Category: News

Jacinta Allan’s work from home plan: All your questions answered

Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association chief executive Wes Lambert argued the proposal would only divide workplaces.

“This announcement today simply defies reality and only demonstrates the lack of understanding the current government has on how our economy works,” he said.

Restaurants, building firm insolvencies remain high

Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association CEO Wes Lambert said it was no longer a case of if a hospitality business would close, but rather which one would shut it doors.

“It’s a real threat for many businesses in the hospitality industry, especially those in CBDs with work-from-home now fully enshrined into employment culture, and with tourism remaining at levels not seen since 2016,” he told AAP.

Proposed card surcharge ban slammed

The RBA says should the proposal in its current form be enacted, it would save consumers $1.2 billion per year. However, the CEO of the Australian Restaurant & Café Association (ARCA) Wes Lambert says, should the proposal go through, it will raise costs rather than cut them.

“We’re a bit confused, because the RBA is proposing this change is going to save consumers $1.2 billion and that they’re going to be cutting the costs of hospitality businesses. For us, both of those things are as far from the truth as humanly possible,” says Wes.

“It might be saving consumers $1.2 billion in surcharges, but even the RBA has said these charges should be embedded into the price of the item – if they are not already.

“The price of the item is going to go up to cover the cost. Since we don’t have six or eight cent coins, people are now going to be paying at least $5.10 for a cup of coffee that previously cost them $5.08 with the surcharge.”

Huge problem with major payment change coming to Australia exposed – and why it’s bad news for those who pay cash

The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association slapped down the proposal, and suggested the ‘tone deaf’ policy would simply drive up menu prices.

‘Who the hell does the RBA think will bear the cost of this ridiculous decision?’ chief executive Wes Lambert said.

‘A blanket ban on surcharging will undermine small businesses, reduce price transparency and mandate price hikes across every menu in Australia.’

Surcharges could soon be a thing of the past, but at what cost?

The Reserve Bank has propsed an end to surcharges on all credit and debit card transactions leaving consumers at risk of wearing the cost.
Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association CEO Wes Lambert believes it will lead to higher menu prices to cover those lost surcharges.

‘Screwed’: Consumers to wear cost of RBA card surcharge ban but central bank insists it won’t be inflationary

Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association chief executive Wes Lambert said while he appreciated the RBA was working to reduce merchant fees, its proposal added to small businesses’ expenses.
“(Businesses) who have always passed on the merchant fee directly to consumers, so therefore never had a merchant fee expense on their (income statement), will either be forced to absorb those new merchant fees . . . or they’ll have to pass those additional expenses that they’ve never had before onto their consumers in the form of increased menu prices,” he said.

“Consumers will end up getting screwed . . . consumers will pay more than $1.2b in increased menu prices.
“The RBA is sounding like a used-car salesman (by) trying to sell us a piece of junk as a brand new car.”

Guess who’s unhappy about the surcharge ban? Cafes and retailers

Wes Lambert, the chief executive of the Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association, which represents many of the country’s hospitality venues, said there was no way that the RBA’s proposal would save consumers the $1.2 billion that the central bank had suggested on Tuesday.

“They’re kidding themselves,” he said, noting restaurants will still have to pass on other fees to consumers through higher menu prices. More than 80 per cent of cafes and restaurants pass on fees paid for credit and debit card payment services to consumers in full through surcharging.

“If the merchant cannot pass on any merchant fees to the consumer, what will the merchant fee have to be to that business for it not to have more expenses? Zero. Is the RBA suggesting that they will be zero? No,” he said.